COUNCIL planning bosses look set to give the thumbs-up to the building of a pub near Runcorn town centre.

The proposal for a public house with attached play barn and a play area is due to be discussed by members of the council's development control committee on Monday.

Planning officers have recommended the plan to build the pub on the former Crosville bus depot site off Greenway Road should be given the allcleadr.

If the application from the Property Alliance Group goes ahead, it will be the second large pub to open in the town centre.

Pub giant JD Wetherspoon intends to open an outlet on the site of the town's now-empty Kwik Save store by the end of the year.

A spokesman for the pub chain said: 'We have set a provisional date for the opening of the new pub and we are looking forward to establishing our first outlet in Runcorn.'

The Kwik Save store was left vacant when the supermarket chain opened its town centre store last month.

Only two letters of objection to the latest scheme have been received by nearby residents who claim there are too many pubs in town.

A council spokesman said: 'The site has been vacant for number of years.

'The proposals are considered to offer a good quality of design and in overall terms will result in a development and addition to the town which should be welcomed and which is considered particularly suited to this prominent canal-side location.'

The proposed pub would be a stone's throw away from the recently-opened Brindley arts centre.